Dogs can vomit for many reasons, ranging from eating something unusual or a temporary stomach upset to infections, parasites, pancreatitis, intestinal obstruction, toxins or diseases affecting organs such as the liver or kidneys. Vomiting is an active process usually involving nausea, retching and abdominal contractions, whereas regurgitation is more passive. One isolated episode in an otherwise healthy dog may sometimes be monitored, but contact a veterinarian promptly if vomiting is repeated, persists, contains blood, is accompanied by pain, lethargy, dehydration, diarrhea or weight loss, or if your dog cannot keep water down. Seek urgent veterinary care if your dog has a swollen or painful abdomen, repeated unproductive retching, collapse, breathing difficulty, significant weakness, or you suspect a toxin or foreign object has been swallowed.

Pet birds often hide signs of illness, so changes from your bird's normal behaviour can be important. Warning signs include eating less, unexplained weight loss, sleeping more, reduced vocalisation or interaction, persistent fluffed feathers, sitting low on a perch or on the cage floor, weakness, balance problems, changes in droppings, vomiting, eye or nasal discharge, and changes in feathers or grooming. Breathing difficulty, open-mouth breathing at rest, pronounced tail bobbing with each breath, collapse, severe weakness, inability to perch, seizures, uncontrolled bleeding or rapid deterioration require urgent veterinary attention. Because different bird species have different normal behaviours, diets and health risks, concerns should ideally be assessed by a veterinarian experienced with the species.

Signs that a cat may be unwell include eating less, drinking or urinating more or less than usual, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, weight loss, hiding, lethargy, unusual behaviour, reduced grooming, mobility changes, coughing, rapid or difficult breathing, eye or nose discharge, skin or coat changes and changes in litter-tray habits. Cats can sometimes show illness subtly, so a meaningful change from your cat's normal routine may be important even when no dramatic symptom is present. Contact a veterinarian if a change persists, recurs or occurs with other concerning signs. Seek urgent veterinary care for difficulty or open-mouth breathing, collapse or unresponsiveness, seizures, severe weakness, inability to urinate, major trauma or bleeding, abnormal gum colour, suspected poisoning or rapid deterioration.

Dogs can show illness in many ways, including reduced appetite, changes in drinking or urination, vomiting, diarrhoea, coughing, breathing changes, lethargy, unusual behaviour, limping, pain, weight change, skin or coat problems, eye or ear discharge and changes in stool or urine. No single sign identifies the cause, and some illnesses begin with subtle changes from your dog's normal routine. Contact a veterinarian if a change persists, recurs or is accompanied by other concerning signs. Seek urgent veterinary care for difficulty breathing, collapse or unresponsiveness, seizures, severe weakness or paralysis, major bleeding or trauma, pale or blue gums, a swollen painful abdomen, inability to urinate, suspected poisoning or rapid deterioration.

Rabbits do not always look dramatically ill when something is wrong.

A healthy guinea pig diet should be based primarily on continuous access to good-quality grass hay, together with appropriate fresh vegetables, a measured amount of guinea-pig-specific pellets and fresh water.

Kittens need food formulated specifically for growth, with enough energy and the right balance of protein, fats, vitamins, minerals and other essential nutrients to support rapid development.

Feeding your pet well means providing food that meets the nutritional needs of their species, life stage and individual circumstances — in appropriate amounts and alongside suitable access to water.

Preventive pet care means protecting your pet’s health before problems become serious. It combines regular veterinary care with appropriate vaccination, parasite management, nutrition, weight and dental care, everyday observation and species-specific husbandry. The right plan depends on your pet’s species, age, health, lifestyle and where they live or travel, so preventive care should always be individual rather than based on a universal checklist.

Puppies need food specifically suitable for growth, because building bones, muscles, organs and other tissues requires a different nutritional balance from maintaining an adult body.

A useful reptile health check begins with knowing the exact species and its normal behaviour, feeding pattern and husbandry requirements. Regularly monitor body weight and condition, appetite, drinking where observable, droppings and urates where applicable, activity, posture, movement, breathing, eyes, mouth, skin or scales, shell condition in turtles and tortoises, and shedding. At the same time, record enclosure temperature gradients, basking conditions, humidity, lighting and UVB where appropriate, diet and recent husbandry changes. Reptiles can hide illness, so persistent or unexplained changes from normal deserve veterinary attention. Seek urgent reptile-experienced veterinary care for difficulty breathing, collapse, seizures, severe weakness, uncontrolled bleeding, major trauma, prolapse, severe burns, inability to move normally or rapid deterioration.

Signs that your horse may need veterinary attention include reduced or absent appetite, changes in water intake, reduced or abnormal manure, signs of abdominal pain, fever, unusual behaviour, persistent coughing or nasal discharge, breathing difficulty, unexplained weight loss, significant swelling, wounds, eye pain, lameness, hoof pain, neurological changes or a noticeable decline in performance. Seek urgent veterinary attention for severe or persistent colic signs, difficulty breathing, choke, severe or sudden lameness or suspected fracture, suspected laminitis, serious eye injury, uncontrolled bleeding, collapse, seizures, severe incoordination, inability to stand, major trauma, heat stroke, suspected poisoning or rapid deterioration. Knowing your individual horse's normal appetite, behaviour, manure, movement and resting vital signs can make important changes easier to recognise.

During a routine health check, your veterinarian assesses your pet’s current health and looks for changes that may not yet be obvious at home. The appointment usually combines a discussion about your pet’s health, behaviour and lifestyle with a hands-on physical examination. Depending on the animal, the veterinarian may assess weight and body condition, eyes, mouth, skin, heart and breathing, abdomen, movement and other species-specific areas. They may also review nutrition, vaccinations, parasite prevention, dental or oral health and other preventive needs. Any additional tests or treatments should be recommended according to your individual pet rather than automatically performed at every appointment.

For most healthy adult rabbits, grass or good-quality grass hay should form the foundation of the diet and be available freely, alongside fresh water. Appropriate leafy greens can provide additional variety and nutrients, while a smaller amount of suitable rabbit pellets may complement the diet.

Guinea pigs need unlimited good-quality grass hay, fresh water, guinea-pig-specific pellets containing vitamin C, appropriate fresh vegetables and regular access to dietary vitamin C because they cannot produce it themselves. They also need spacious solid-floored housing, hiding places, exercise, enrichment and companionship from another compatible guinea pig unless a veterinarian or qualified behaviour professional advises otherwise. Monitor eating, drinking, droppings, weight, teeth, movement, breathing and behaviour every day. Reduced appetite or changes in droppings can become serious quickly and should prompt veterinary advice.

Hamsters need a secure, spacious home with a large uninterrupted floor area, deep bedding that allows them to construct burrows, a dark nesting area, hiding places, opportunities to forage and gnaw, and a correctly sized solid-surface exercise wheel. They need a nutritionally balanced hamster diet and constant access to clean fresh water. Most pet hamsters should be housed alone; Syrian and Chinese hamsters must live alone because they are naturally solitary and can seriously injure one another. Hamsters are most active in the evening and at night, so they should normally be allowed to sleep undisturbed during the day. Monitor appetite, drinking, droppings, weight, breathing, movement, teeth, coat, eyes and behaviour, and contact a veterinarian promptly if something changes.

A complete horse health record should bring together identification and passport details, microchip information, veterinary history, vaccinations, medications, allergies or adverse reactions, diagnostic results, dental care, hoof and farrier history, parasite testing and treatment, weight and body-condition trends, insurance information and emergency contacts. Keep original legal documents where required and maintain accessible copies of important records. In the UK, every horse must generally have a valid passport and microchip, vaccinations administered by a veterinarian must be recorded in the passport, and specific legal record-keeping requirements apply to veterinary medicines.

Horses may be vaccinated against serious infectious diseases including tetanus and equine influenza, with additional vaccines recommended according to where the horse lives, travels and competes and their individual exposure risk. In the United States, AAEP classifies tetanus, Eastern and Western equine encephalomyelitis, West Nile virus and rabies as core vaccines, while others are selected according to risk. Vaccination requirements can also differ from veterinary recommendations: competition organisations, racing authorities, breeding facilities, livery yards and international travel rules may impose their own requirements. Your equine veterinarian should therefore create and maintain an individual vaccination plan rather than relying on a universal schedule.

The right veterinarian for an exotic pet is one who has genuine experience with your animal's species, appropriate facilities and equipment, and a clear plan for routine, emergency and referral care. Start looking before your pet becomes ill. Ask how frequently the veterinarian treats your species, who at the practice handles exotic patients, what diagnostic and hospitalisation facilities are available, and where emergencies are referred. Professional directories from organisations such as the Association of Avian Veterinarians, Association of Reptile and Amphibian Veterinarians and Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians can help identify veterinarians with a professional interest in these species. Specialist credentials can provide additional assurance, but a veterinarian does not necessarily need to be a board-certified specialist to provide excellent exotic-pet care.

Good pet bird care starts with understanding the needs of the individual species. Companion birds need species-appropriate nutrition, clean fresh water, enough safe space to move and fly, appropriate social interaction, daily mental stimulation and foraging opportunities, clean air, safe perches and regular observation of their health. Many birds hide signs of illness, so subtle changes in weight, appetite, droppings, breathing, activity, posture or behaviour can be important. Establish care with an avian-experienced veterinarian before an emergency occurs and seek veterinary advice promptly when your bird appears unwell.

A healthy pet bird should normally be alert and responsive, eat and drink according to their usual pattern, maintain a stable healthy weight, breathe comfortably, perch and move normally, and produce droppings that are consistent with what is normal for that individual and their diet. Their eyes, nostrils, feathers, skin, feet and beak should appear healthy. Because birds instinctively conceal signs of illness, changes in weight, appetite, droppings, activity, vocalisation, posture or breathing can be important even when they seem subtle. A bird that is struggling to breathe, collapsing, severely weak, actively bleeding, having seizures or lying weak or unresponsive on the bottom of the enclosure needs urgent veterinary attention.

Reptile care must be tailored to the exact species. Before bringing a reptile home, understand its adult size, lifespan, diet, temperature gradient, basking requirements, humidity, UVB and lighting needs, substrate, enclosure design and veterinary needs. Reptiles are ectothermic, so their environment directly affects body temperature and many biological functions. Incorrect heating, lighting, nutrition or humidity can contribute to serious health problems. Set up and test the habitat before the reptile arrives, monitor temperature and humidity with appropriate instruments, provide species-appropriate food and enrichment, maintain good hygiene, and establish care with a veterinarian experienced in reptiles.

A digital pet passport is a digital profile that brings together important information about a pet, such as identity details, microchip information, vaccinations, medical history, medications, veterinary contacts, insurance and travel documents. It can make records easier to organise, update and share with trusted carers or professionals. However, the term “digital pet passport” is not the same as an official pet passport used for international travel. Travel requirements depend on the destination, species, country of residence and journey, and authorities may require specific original passports, health certificates or other official documentation. A digital record should therefore complement—not replace—legally required travel documents unless the relevant authority explicitly recognises it.

An AI pet assistant is a digital tool that uses artificial intelligence to help guardians organise and understand information about their pets and support everyday care. Depending on the system, it may answer pet-care questions, organise health records, explain veterinary information, identify patterns in information you record, manage reminders, help prepare for appointments and indicate when veterinary advice may be appropriate. AI can make pet care easier to navigate, but it cannot physically examine your pet, reliably diagnose every health problem or replace a veterinarian. The safest AI pet assistants are transparent about these limits, use species-specific and individual context, protect personal and pet data, and escalate appropriately when an animal may need professional care.

Your dog has started limping. Your cat seems unusually quiet. Your rabbit has barely touched its food.